Feed-limit device for manifold strips



July 1, 1930. E. K. BOTTLE 1,768,973

v FEED LIMIT DEVICE FOR MANIFOLD STRIPS I Fild Oct. 23, 1929 26 I F g.1.

INVEN TOR. W K

BY M, Ma ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 1, 1 930.

f UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE EDWARD KIRCBY BOTTLE, Olli ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN SALES BOOK COMPANY, LIMITED, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, A CORPORATION 01' ONTARIO This invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for feeding strips in predetermined lengths, being specifically adapted for feeding record strips for use in autographic registers and the like.

It is a-general object of the invention to provide an improved arrangement whereby successive predetermined lengths of a strip or the like may be measured.

Another object is to provide an improved arrangementfor feeding forwardly successive predetermined lengths of an auto graphic record strip or the like, the lengths corresponding ordinarily to lengths ofblank forms or recording areas on the strips.

A further object is to provide an improved strip feed limiting device or gauge for intermittently limiting strip feed to predetermined lengths whereby predetermined strip lengths may be severed. 7

A further object is to provide an improved gauge or strip feed limiting device which may be automatically set or returned to initial'position after an operative action thereof. i I,

Other objects will be in part pointed out in connection with the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims. i For a complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and' to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section through a manifolding machine orantographic register embodying the invention; V

v Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the carbon' sheet supports being omitted and parts FEELD-LIIISIIIT{l1 DEVICE FOR MANIFOLD STRIPS Application filed October 23, 1929. Serial No. 401,745.

.being broken away for clearness of disclo- Fig. l, which may be loaded intothe compartment through a door 12 preferably pivotally mounted to swing about one edge as shown. The supply pad or pack may be of any desired form but is preferably of the zigzag type in which one or two or more long strips 13 are interfol'ded zigzag so as to form leaves between successive folds, and the folds being preferably weakened as by perforations 14 on transverse lines to facilitate severance of the leaves. 'One 'or more of the record strips 13 are preferably provided with blank forms 15 arranged in a series therealong to facilitate the reception of an inscription which may be entered manually or otherwise. The strip which is to receive the original inscription will be provided with these blank forms and the other strip or strips may also be similarly provided. I

The record strips 13 may be guided from the storage supply through a slot 16 in a top plate 17 which may as shown form a writing table or platen for supporting the record stripsin position for reception of an.

platen and spaced thereabove, and a similar bar 19 may be provided adjacent the opposite end ofthe platen.

i If it is desired to transfer an inscribed record to a record strip, a transfer sheet 20 such as carbon paper may be supported in position over the platen. A carbon supply cent record sheets and supported at the opposite side of the platen by a holding device such as the clamp 22 shown in Fig. 3.

The platen 17 may be longitudinally inclined as shown and an inclined plate 23 is mounted therebeneath for longitudinal sliding movement. This sliding plate or slide functions as .a gauge or measuring device for measuring the length of record strips to be fed forwardly in order to bring successive blank forms into inscription receiving position on the platen and for facilitating stopping the strips in correct position. The gauge 23 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement by means of supporting slideways formed by slide plates 24 mounted beneath the platen, and is provided at the rear or lower end with a downturned flange 25 and at its upper or forward end with an 'position;

weight 28 may be attached to the gauge P illustrative and not 1n a llmiting sense.

gauge strip may upturned flange 26. Stop lugs27 project inwardly from the upper ends of the slideways 24. being positioned to contact with the ends of the downturned flange 25 to limit the gauge to a. predetermined forward travel asv indicated in dot and dash lines of Fig. 1. Movement of the gauge in the opposite direction may be limited by the up'perflange 26 coming into contact with the forward edge of the platen plate as in full lines, Fig. 1. It will be seen that the travel of the gauge plate is thus. limited to a predetermined amount which may correspond to the length of each record leaf having one of the blank forms 15. I

For returning the gauge plate automatically to initial position after having been drawn forwardly as described, the plate may be of suflicient weight to cause it to slide by gravity from its forward position to retracted for this purpose if necessary, a

plate. I I

To facilitate manually'gripping the record sheets at their forward ends against the gauge plate, a deep notch 29 is formed in the forward edge of the platen plate .17, and a less deep notch 30 is formed in the coincident underlying edge of the gauge plate opening throughthe flange 26 thereof. This arrangement provides a margin'31 on the plate exposed through the deep notch 29 against which the forward ends of the be manually gripped when the gauge and strips are to be moved forwardly. The upturned flange 26 may also function as an abutment for the forward ends of the record strip in order that the latter may be initially correctly positioned relatively to the platen and to the gauge plate.

-The manner of operating the improved feed limit device will now be apparent. When the strips 13 are properly positioned of the strips are thus by abutting the forward edges thereof against the flange 26 as shown in Fig. 1 and a record has been inscribed, the forward edge of; the strips are then manually' gripped against the gripping surface 31 and the gauge plate and strips pulled forwardly together. of the strips is checked by the lugs27, the strips being then in correct position with the next successive blank form upon thev writing surface .of the platen. Upon release This forward feeding movement of the gauge plate by the operator, it automatically returns by gravity to its initial position. Release of the gauge plate without releasing the hold upon the strips is facilitated at this point by means of the notch 30 in the gauge plate since the forward edges of the strips overlap said notch. The forwardly fed inscribed parts of the record strip may then be severed as desired and the device is ready for the recep tion of another inscription.

It will be observed that the forward edge of the bar 19 may serve as a tearing edge for severing the strips. Since this edge is positioned adjacent to the gripping surface 31 and the notches 29 and 30, being spaced slightly thereabove, the'free severed edges and adjacent margins at the forward ends of the strips lying on the platen will lie in position to be gripped by't'he thumb or finger as soon as they fall into position after a severing operation. The forward margins always positioned for gripping engagement with the gauge plate so they may be gripped and pulled forwardly with the latter.

Since certain changes may be made in the Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an autographic register, in combination, an inclined platen upon which 2. record strip may be fed from a supply source. and supported for inscription, and a movable gauge member slidably mounted adjacent said inclinedplaten and'adapted to advance with said strip so asto determine a, desired advancement thereof, said gauge member being weighted to return it to initial position by gravity.

2. In an autographic register, tion, a platen upon which a record strip may be fed from a supply source for inscription, and a slidably mounted strip feed limiting plate underlying said platen and having a gripping surface exposed adjacent the forward part of said platen in combinaand supported i underlying said platen and having a gripping surface exposed adjacent the forward part of the platen against which the record strip may be manually ripped so as to advance with said strip feed limitin plate, said plate also having a notch in its orward edge adjacent said gripping surface to facilitate'release of said plate while retaining grip upon said-strip, and said plate being weighted to automatically return it to initial position after advancement thereof.

4. In an autographic register, in combination, a platen upon which a record strip may be fed from a supply source and supported for inscription, a longitudinally inclined slidably mounted gauge plate underlying said platen and-having a gripping surface exposed adjacent the forward part of said platen against which the record strip may be manually gripped so as to advance with said gauge plate, saidplate also having a notch disposed at its forward edge adjacent its gripping surface to facilitate release of said plate while retaining grip of said strip whereby said plate may be returned to initial position, means for limiting forward advancement of said gauge plate, and gravity means for automatically returning said plate after advancement thereof.

5. In an autographic register, in combina-' tion, a platen upon which a record strip may be fed from a supply source and supported for inscription, a slidably mounted strip feed gauge plate underlying said platen and having a gripping surface exposed adjacent the forward part of said platen against which the record strip may be manually gripped so as to advance with said gauge plate, said plate also having a notch disposed at its forward edge ad acent its gripping surface to facilitate release of said plate while retaining grip of said strip whereby said platen may be returned to initial position, and an upturned flange at the forward edge of said gauge plate through which said notch opens, said flange forming an abutment ledge for the forward edge of the record strip and cooperating to stop one plate in retracted position. I j

,6. In an autographic register, in combination, a casing having a storage compartment for a supply of traveler record strip, a

platen over which said strip may .be fed for reception of an inscription, and a gauge plate mounted adjacent said platen for forward travel with the strip to determine advancement of the latter, said gauge plate having.

a notch in the forward edge thereof and being provided with a forward abutment for the edges of the record strip.

7. In an autographic register,in combination, a casing haying a storage compartment for a supply oftrayeler record strip, a longitudinally inclined platen over which the strip maybe fed for reception of an inscription, and a gauge slidably mounted in inclined position adjacent the platen foradvancement with the record strip, said gauge being weighted for automatlc return after an advancement thereof.

8. In an autographic register,'in combination, a platen upon which a record strip may be fed from asupplysource and supported for inscription, a gauge plate mounted for forward movement ad acent said platen and having a manual gripping surface exposed adjacent the forward part of said platen against-which the record strip may be gripped manually so as to advance With'said gauge plate, said plate also having a notch disposed at its forward edge adjacent its gripping surface, and strip sev-' ering means positioned so as to sever the strip with its forward margin oyerlapp ng said gripping surface and notch 1n posltlon to be manually gripped agalnstsaid surface.

9. In an autographic register, in combination, aiplaten upon which a record strlp maybe fed from a supply source and supported for inscription, a forwardly movable strip feed limiting plate mounted ad acent said platen and havmg a manual grlpplng surfaceexposed adjacentthe forward part of said platen against which the strip may be manually gripped soas to advance with I said strip feed limiting plate, and a strip severing edge positioned ad acent to sa1d gripping surface but spaced the'reabove so that the forward margins of the s'tr1 s as severed by said edge are positione for manual gripping downwardly agalnst sa1d gripping surface.

10. In an autographic register, in combination, a platen upon which arecord strip may be fed from a supply source and supported for inscription, a strip feed limiting plate mounted for forward movement ad acent said platen, said limtingplate havln'g an upwardly exposed gripping surface positioned to lie adjacent the strip and agamst which the strip may be gripped manually and advanced with said plate, and means for limiting the advancement of said plate so as to limit strip feedto predetermined lengths.

11. In an autogfaphic register, in com= i bination, a platen upon which a traveler with the record strip,

recordstrip may be fed from a supply source and supported for inscription, a gauge plate mounted for traveling movement forwardly said gauge plate having a manual grlpping 7 surface against which the strip may be manually gripped and having notch adjacent said gripping surface to facilitate release of the plate while retaining the grip upon the strip;

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDWARD KIRBY BOTTLE. 

